‘Why Italy is the Best Grand Prix on the F1 Calendar’

The Temple of Speed

Monza has earned many nicknames over the years, but one that’s stuck is the Temple of Speed. It’s also easy to see why with an average qualifying speed of 161mph and a top speed of around 220mph.

The long straights lend themselves to the rapid nature, with the cars running a unique downforce setting to help reduce drag.

“Across the years, I have managed to visit almost every point of the track,” Alessia states.

“I would recommend watching the Variante Ascari, which is Turns 8, 9 and 10, to see how the cars jump on the kerbs after coming from the Curva del Serraglio at a really high speed, especially after the resurfacing last year that has made it even tougher for drivers.

“In terms of overtaking opportunities, the straights are your best opportunity. The pit straight gives a perfect view from the Curva Alboreto – previously known as Parabolica – which is the last turn of the track, all the way to the Variante del Rettifilo which is Turns 1 and 2.

“Being on the main straight also means you can see all the action that happens in the pit lane and of course witness the podium! I don't suggest staying in your seat but running to one of the gates that allows you to be under the podium after the race, no matter who the winner is you can count on Italian fans celebrating like nobody else.”

Living on Monza’s Doorstep

Alessia lives just kilometers from Monza, which is actually part of a wider park. Explaining that her family moved there for her father’s job, she joked that her parents didn’t realise just how close they were to the Temple of Speed.

“When we first moved to Monza, we were just a few meters from one of the entrances of the massive Monza Park, which happens to be the largest world park in Europe! Monza is quite a large town and has over 100,000 residents. It's also a city that is well connected by the main means of transport, such as buses and trains.”

Being so close to Monza means Alessia has been to the circuit dozens of times for all types of motorsport, and the Grand Prix is always a family affair.

“The Italian Grand Prix is very special in our house, not only because we live there, but we created a tradition that needs to be respected during the day of the race.

We sit on the couch, put on the television and watch the national anthem, and then just before it finishes we run to the balcony to see the spectacle of the Frecce Tricolori – the iconic flyby in the sky!”

‘The Surroundings Come Alive’

There’s no shortage of celebrations when Formula 1 comes to Monza, with the Italian Grand Prix often coming to town during the first or second week of September:

“That is a great time, as the school year in Italy hasn't started yet and the weather, usually, is good.”

This year also sees the return of the Fuori GP, which sees motorsport celebrated across seven municipalities in Brianza: Monza, Arcore, Biassono, Lesmo, Lissone, Vedano al Lambro and Villasanta.

“The city of Monza and the surrounding towns offer to the fans the best experience away from the track, with DJ sets, concerts, vintage car rallies, street food, photographic exhibitions and much more for all ages,” Alessia explains.

“It's like an open fun zone, all free and available to people who are actually not attending the race or don't know about motorsport.

“When F1 is in town, the surroundings become alive, and it's really cool to see those activations also for the fans.”

Showing Support for Kimi

This weekend also marks the second home race for Kimi this season, with the team launching a special Adidas Monza collection to celebrate the occasion. As the only Italian driver on the grid, there will be no shortage of support over the weekend.

“As an Italian fan, I can definitely tell that the nation is really proud of Kimi and his progress,” Alessia says with pride.

“He’s so young, so seeing him succeed as a teenager is truly refreshing.

“I have been watching lots of feeder series in the last few years, and I have been highly impressed by Kimi’s rapid adaptation to new machinery and the capability of winning in almost all the championships he has raced in. He's also really kind with fans and takes time to talk to everyone, signing autographs, and taking photos. He's really kind and so patient.

“I'm sure that after getting more confidence with his current car, his first F1 win won't take long to come. He's already breaking important records, so I think his first win is really, really close.”

An Epic History

Last but certainly not least, is the history of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Built in just 110 days back in 1922, it was the world’s third purpose-built race circuit and is the oldest venue on the current calendar. It’s a symbol of our sport, and we love it.

“The history behind the circuit is one of the most iconic parts of the whole Monza story,” Alessia says.

“One of the perks of living here is that often at school I had to do projects around it, and that made me feel closer to it.”

One part of the circuit that used to be used, but is now tucked away, is the old banking. It featured an 80 percent gradient at its steepest point and was built on reinforced concrete! It really is a mind-blowing feature and can still be seen from some parts of the current circuit layout.

“I've been able to see the old banking but never been able to stand there. If you sit it in the grandstands of the Prima Variante, where there's the first chicane, you can see part of the banking poking out and it's really cool.

“A dream of mine would be seeing it in use again because I'm a big NASCAR fan, and I think having some oval racing in Europe would be cool!

“Apparently, it's really expensive to restore, and the current safety standards would make it even tougher! Luckily, it's still in good condition, and it can still be visited by fans, so that's a big plus.”